Brandon Smith

IPBS Statehouse Reporter

Brandon Smith is excited to be working for public radio in Indiana. He has previously worked in public radio as a reporter and anchor in mid-Missouri for KBIA Radio out of Columbia. Prior to that, he worked for WSPY Radio in Plano, Illinois as a show host, reporter, producer and anchor. His first job in radio was in another state capitol, in Jefferson City, Missouri, as a reporter for three radio stations around Missouri. Brandon graduated from the University of Missouri-Columbia with a Bachelor of Journalism in 2010, with minors in political science and history. He was born and raised in Chicago.

Indiana tax collections surpassed expectations in February for the third consecutive month – and only the third time this fiscal year.

Total tax collections were about $30 million better than expected last month. The positive month was spurred by individual income tax collections more than 30 percent better than projected. Sales taxes came in essentially right on target.

State lawmakers are arguing over labeling and testing requirements for cannabidiol, or CBD, manufacturers in the final days of the 2018 session.

The Senate this session put certain labeling and testing requirements into CBD legislation. That includes a provision to require all manufacturers to submit their CBD oil to an independent lab for inspection.

The Senate sent legislation to the governor Wednesday to impose new abortion reporting requirements on all doctors and hospitals across the state.

The bill creates a long list of abortion complications. That list ranges from blood clots and cardiac arrest to anxiety and sleeping disorders. And the legislation says if a woman has ever had an abortion, and suffers one of those complications, any doctor or hospital that treats her must report that complication to the state.

The House sent legislation to the governor Tuesday blocking local governments from banning short-term rentals such as Airbnb - while still allowing units to regulate the industry.

The bill says local governments can require permits for short-term rentals, with a one-time fee of up to $150. And Rep. Matt Lehman (R-Berne) says the bill allows local units to revoke those licenses after repeated complaints.

House lawmakers unanimously passed legislation Monday to require all Indiana public schools to offer a computer science course.

Nearly half of all Indiana public schools currently offer computer science classes. Rep. Robin Shackleford (D-Indianapolis) says the legislation she co-sponsors to spread that to all schools will help address Indiana’s skills gap.

“We have over four thousand current jobs available in computer science and we don’t have enough people to fill these jobs,” Shackleford says.